Editorial by Paul Bowyer
Welcome to the sixth edition of V-Blue, the e-magazine for those "experienced learners" of the wonderful game of bridge.
In this issue there are three series. In two of them we are looking focussing on bidding – slam bidding. Many of you will have met the idea of an Ace-asking convention in your lessons to date, where 4NT (known as the Blackwood convention) asks partner how many Aces he has. Well, be prepared for a little cold water to be splashed on your faces. 4NT is not always Blackwood – sometimes it means what it says (a balanced hand). How can you tell? We aim to instruct with two contrasting series on this very topic. Six hands show you when 4NT is a quantitative raise and six hands show you when 4NT is Blackwood. In this short span we have managed to find space to show you when this much abused convention should not be used...
Our quiz reinforces the topic of quantitative slam bidding and attempts to prevent you from falling into the many traps that so many bridge players stumble into on a daily basis. This quiz is for you and your partner – make sure you both complete it!
After that foray into the slam region we come down to earth with our "General Series" of eight miscellaneous deals. Well, a mixture of deals they may be but there is a theme of entries and blockages that runs through a few of the hands. Not all the hands, mind, and we are not telling you how many of them have this theme - that would spoil the fun!
There is plenty here for you to enjoy. Good luck.
Series #2156 - Slam Bidding - Part I (SA)
This series is all about bidding (and avoiding) slams.
We make the assumption that you have met the Blackwood convention whereby 4NT asks for Aces. However, this convention should come with a government health warning as it asks for trouble more often than it effectively asks for useful cards. There are few conventions in bridge more abused than this one.
In this series of six deals we look at cases where 4NT is NOT Blackwood. In other words, partner is not asking for Aces, he is raising No-trumps. How can you tell what 4NT means? Well, for 4NT to be Blackwood you have to have agreed a suit between you. If not, how can you sign-off at the five-level if there are insufficient Aces?
A natural bid of 4NT is called a quantitative raise. Its function is to get partner to make a choice between Passing 4NT or advancing to 6NT. Think of it as being analogous to the sequence 1NT - 2NT where the response is inviting you to bid game. Essentially 2NT is a buck-passing bid to a game. 4NT as a quantitative raise is a buck-passing bid to a possible slam.
Quantitative Slam Bidding Quiz
In the last quiz (V-Blue Issue 3), we looked at how and when it was the right time to open a pre-emptive three-or-four level opening bid. For example, a pre-emptive 3♠ opening would show 6-10 points with (at least) a seven-card suit. Factors that determine a pre-empt were suit quality, vulnerability, and hand distribution.
This quiz is all about Quantitative Slam bidding. Basically, it's about reaching No-trump slams when your side has 33 points or more. To do this, one of your partnership may well bid 4NT to encourage partner to bid 6NT (or to Pass if he feels like chickening out). The problem is that players often know about the Blackwood convention when 4NT asks for Aces and confusion reigns over whether 4NT is Ace-asking or not. It is simple, really (!) If your side has agreed a trump suit then 4NT is Blackwood. If not (or if you've only bid No-trumps) then it isn't.
Let's see how you get on with these hands...
Click here to run the Quiz.
Series #2157 - Slam Bidding - Part II (SA)
This series of six deals is all about bidding (and avoiding) slams.
Again, we make the assumption that you have met the Blackwood convention whereby 4NT asks for Aces. In these six deals we will be bidding suits and so 4NT will be Blackwood. Having an agreed trump suit will allow you to sign off at the five-level in your trump suit should there be insufficient Aces for slam purposes.
The main problem that players have is in knowing when to wheel 4NT out into the auction. Much depends on judgement ("Is my hand worth a slam when it's put opposite what I know of partner's hand?") and that is not easy. Too many players just bid 4NT on all good hands. This is not good bridge!
We ought to point out that there are many variations of Blackwood that you may have encountered. They all have the fundamental problem, though, of knowing when to employ this bid. These deals may give you some (albeit limited) insight.
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